Improvement in gr



G. 'HUNZIKVEFL Improvement in Grapplng-Forks.

No. 129,032. Patented July 16, 1872.

UNITED STATES GASPAR HUNZIKER, or SUMMIT, MISSISSIPPI.

IMPROVEMENT IN GRAPPLING-FORKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 129,032, dated July 16, '1872.

Specification describing a new and useful Improvement in Wood and Goal Loader, in-

vented by GASPAR HUNZIKER, of Summit, in

the county of Pike and State of Mississippi.

My invention consists of the peculiar construction and arrangements of the parts comprising a cage for grappling a pile of wood or coal in a frame or holder on the ground, holding it while being hoisted and swung over a tender or other vehicle to be loaded, and then discharging it by the opening of the jaws of the grapple by the gravity of the load when the holding devices for` the jaws have been tripped, which said construction and arrangement will be hereafter described.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved loader, and Fig. 2 is a vertical elevation taken on the line x of Fig. l. A

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The two hanging or vertical yoke-shaped rods A and transverse connecting-plates B C D constitute a rigid frame, to be suspended from a hoisting-cord, E, by a bail, F, and snaphook G, or any other equivalent devices. The vertical fingers H and I, connected together by the transverse bars K and pivoted to the plates D of the frame, constitute two jaws of the grapple, fronting each other in such man ner as to close upon the load to be elevated by swinging toward each other, and to open for discharging it by swinging in the opposite direction. The middle fingers are extended at L above the pivot, and bent nearly double to form a slot for looking the jaws open or closed by means of the shaft M mounted on the bars B, and projecting each way beyond them through the slots, and carrying the locking-platesY N, over which the slotted parts L swing from end to end. Near the inner end these plates have a lateral projection, O, which, coming outside of the rods L, as shown in the drawing, lock the jaws open ready for dropping down on a load and grappling it by swinging toward each other below the pivots, which causes the slotted parts L to swing outward beyond the ends of the plates N, which are then turned upward horizontally, so that the ends P come inside of the parts L and lock the jaws together below. The shaft M is pro vided with a weighted arm, Q, arranged at right angles tothe plates N, to hold them in position for locking the jaws when holding the I load. Said weighted arin has a cord, It, attached to it and passing through a guide, S, above, and then down to the platform below, to be used for raising it and turning the plates down to trip the slotted pieces L and allow the jaws to open. This weight also keeps the projections `O behind the pieces L by bearing the parts T of the plates N against the sides of the said pieces L. These projections O are inclined on the outer edges, so as not to obstruct the pieces L of the jaws when swin ging open. The tripping-cord R also disengages these projections 0 from the pieces L, when it is desired to have the jaws close for taking the load, by pulling the weighted lever Q upward.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The combination of the frameA B C D, the jaws and the locking and tripping devices L M N O, and the weighted lever Q, all substantially as specified.

GASPAR HUNZIKER.

Witnesses:

G. T. BANCH, C. APPEL. 

